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I believe more in parish councils than any other branch of the state, and I especially believe in their central role in community life, empowering, energising, and enabling. It's the damndest thing but I've always believed that a parish council with it's democratic machinery and statutory accountability is actually a safer pair of hands to hold the allotment service than a fully devolved service.

The problem is that Newbury Town Council is out of control and that does limit the options. I don't want to see Newbury de-parished, but I do want to see it behaving legitimately, and I don't see the current regeime making that choice for themselves.